Buckwick Organix in Wicker Park Shutters Less Than Two Years After Opening

BuckWick Organix opened in June 2011 at 1562 N. Milwaukee Ave., just south of the Milwaukee-Damen-North avenues intersection. The convenience store specializing in high-end organic groceries and juices closed abruptly last week.
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DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser

WICKER PARK — Less than two years after it opened, a small convenience store specializing in high-end organic foods and fresh juices has shuttered its doors.

A dried out container of wheat grass in the window of a darkened BuckWick Organix Convenience store Monday served as a reminder that the store would not be opening again, or offering wheat grass shots in its juices.
BuckWick Organix opened in June 2011 at 1562 N. Milwaukee Ave., just south of the Milwaukee-Damen-North avenues intersection.
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DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser

Wasif speculated his neighbor's abrupt closure might have been due to the new Walgreens at 1601 N. Milwaukee Ave., which opened just before Thanksgiving and is one half block north.

In December, Wasif told DNAinfo Chicago that sales at his food mart were down by 30-percent in the first few weeks that Walgreens opened. On Monday he said the competition has continued to eat at his profits, and "looks like down 50 percent."

Reached by phone, Azhar said BuckWick Organix's closure "had nothing to do with Walgreens" and was due to the fact he was unable to change his business model from offering high-end specific items to a cheaper, general grocery model.

"People love quick shop convenience, so they don't want to stand in line at Walgreens. People want general grocery. We were only exclusive high end and did not want to compete with our neighbor [Wicker Park Food Mart] and will have to come up with a new idea," Azhar said.

Since he has a 13-year lease, Azhar must either bring a new concept into the space, which he is currently considering, or find a subleaser.

The businessman said he's putting out an asking call for $12,000 monthly rent for a subleaser.

"It's a great location, a hotspot," Azhar said.

Anyone interested in subleasing the space can call Azhar directly at 312-623-5301.